My Take On Contouring

All the buzz surrounding contouring and highlighting on social media is pretty overwhelming. And let me tell you never in a million years did I think that I would fall into the hype but here we are talking about contouring. Now, there are plenty of powders, creams, sticks and tools on the market that can help you achieve those modelesque cheekbones. Here are just a few of my personal favourites.

Makeup Geek Contour Powder in Infidelity and MAC Sculpting Pro Powder in Sculpt

Let's start with contour powders. My go to ones are Makeup Geek's Contour Powder in Infidelity (which is a newer addition) and MAC's Pro Powder in Sculpt. Both are great shades for mimicking a shadow, easy to use and blend like a dream (especially for those like me who are newbies in this department). In terms of colour payoff Infidelity is a sure winner and you need just a tiny bit to chisel those cheeks. It does kick-off a bit of powder when you dip your brush into the pan but that doesn't bother me (as it's super soft and is to be expected). If I compare the two MAC's Sculpt is a bit more neutral rosy-toned, while Makeup Geek's Infidelity is darker and more of an ashier cooler tone. Personally I think that Sculpt works better for my complexion, since I do have more of neutral/warmer undertones. I am thinking of picking up Makeup Geek's Bad Habit (which is described as Warm Fair) once I run out of MAC's Sculpt. 

Elf Blending Brush and Makeup Geek Angled Stippling Brush

Now let's talk about brushes. I have tried quite a few and eventually settled down on two: Elf's Blending Brush and Makeup Geek's Angled Stippling Brush. I like them for different reasons. Elf's Blending Brush is great for a smooth, everyday, barely there application. Hence I use it on a daily basis. Due to its unique shape I place it right where I want to contour and since it's so fluffy it blends out the product seamlessly. It has synthetic bristles, it's cruelty-free and vegan. If I want more of a sharper contour I opt for Makeup Geek's Angled Stippling Brush. It has an angled tip which is great for more precise application. I place it right where my cheekbones are and just push the product in. I don't blend the product out as vigorously as I would with Elf's Blending Brush. Makeup Geek's Angled Stippling Brush is also cruelty-free.

L-R: Makeup  Geek Infidelity and MAC Sculpt

These are my go to products for contouring. I am by no means a pro but for my purposes a.k.a normal everyday life, these work great. I would say that if you are on a hunt for a cruelty-free, blendable and affordable contour powder, Makeup Geek is where it's at. 

I hope you found this post useful and I would love to hear if contouring is an essential step in your everyday makeup routine or not!

Cheers,
Muffy

Catrice Glamour Doll Volume Waterproof Mascara

Today, I am bringing your way a short and hopefully informative review of the Catrice Glamour Doll Volume Waterproof Mascara. Whether you like a mascara or not is very individual, since we all have different preferences. I personally look for a mascara that does a bit of everything. It lengthens, volumizes, separates and most of all doesn't flake or smudge. My all time favourite mascara that does it all is the Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill (not a waterproof version). However, now that I am trying to shift towards more ethical beauty choices I decided to give Catrice Glamour Doll Volume Waterproof a go. 

Catrice Glamour Doll Volume Waterproof Mascara

Catrice is an affordable cruelty-free brand and I have heard a lot of good things about this particular mascara. It's opthalmologically tested, which means it's safe for use around or near an eye. What initially pleasantly surprised me is the wand. It's not one of those intimidating ones that you either gonna poke yourself in the eye with or it will get all over your eyelids. It has plastic bristles that grip really well onto your lashes. This mascara has a dryer formula, so keep that in mind. It does an incredible job at separating your lashes and curling/lifting them from the roots. If you have straight lashes this would be amazing for you. I have naturally curled lashes, therefore I don't really need extra help in that department. In regards to lengthening it's rather alright and it gives zero volume.   

Close Up of the Catrice Glamour Doll Volume Waterproof Mascara Wand

That being said, my biggest issue with this mascara is that it smudges considering that it's a waterproof formula. This was a massive bummer for me. Whether I used it exclusively on the upper lashes or not it transferred and smudged. By the end of the day I had panda eyes. I always set my under eye area with a setting powder and even my non-waterproof mascaras never smudge on me.

Overall, it does a great job at keeping a curl and separating, but it does transfer ON ME. I will leave it at that and I hope this was helpful in any shape or form.

Let me know what are your all time favourite mascaras that are cruelty-free!

Cheers,
Muffy

YSL Eyeshadow #4 Facon and A Possible Dupe

I am a sucker for neutral matte eyeshadows. In my mind there is no such thing as too many neutral matte eyeshadows. Recently I was visiting my friend who kindly let me look through her makeup stash, since she is downsizing. I could not help but notice a YSL Couture Mono Eyeshadow in #4 Facon, which had to be mine based on the earlier statement. As soon as I got home I went through my collection and surprise surprise managed to find a dupe for it. To find out what it is, keep on reading!

YSL Couture Mono Eyeshadow in #4 Facon and Makeup Geek Eyeshadow in Barcelona Beach

Let's start with addressing the fact that the YSL single eyeshadow in #4 Facon featured here is a tester, just so you know. When you do buy this eyeshadow, it comes in a nice sleek golden packaging with a YSL logo. This particular colour can be found in the permanent YSL Couture Mono Eyeshadow line, so there is no need to rush out and buy it. The shade itself can appear boring to some people but to me this is perfection. It's that ideal medium sand shade with taupe undertones which is perfect for mimicking the natural shadow of your crease. Is it a unique colour? Anything new that we haven't seen before? Of course not. But it's sophisticated, timeless and versatile. Simply something you can't go wrong with. 

YSL Couture Mono Eyeshadow in #4 Facon

In terms of pigmentation it's alright. It's not the best I have tried compared to for example Urban Decay and Makeup Geek, but you can work with it. It's not patchy nor chalky, but needs building up. That could be a good thing especially for those that are intimidated by highly pigmented shadows or have a heavy hand. The texture I would describe as satin. It's not completely matte but not shimmery either and feels very smooth to the touch. Now, as with all YSL products you can expect this little guy to be pretty pricy. As such if you want a more budget alternative with an added bonus of being talc and cruelty free I suggest you take a closer look at Makeup Geek's Barcelona Beach single eyeshadow.

L-R: YSL #4 Facon and Makeup Geek Barcelona Beach

When compared side by side you can see that YSL single eyeshadow in Facon has a slight sheen, whereas Makeup Geek's Barcelona Beach is matte and a tad bit richer. However, when you put them on your eyes you can't tell the difference (but as said earlier you need to build up Facon to get the same colour payoff). 

I will continue using both eyeshadows. That being said if you are on a budget (or not) and looking for a great crease colour that has fantastic pigmentation and great ingredients I say look no further then Makeup Geek's Barcelona Beach. I think YSL makes some of the best nail polishes on the market but the single eyeshadows are yet to impress me. 

I hope you found this comparison helpful and if you have any suggestions for must-have matte crease shadows, let me know!

Until next time,
Muffy

P.S Did you know that Makeup Geek's Barcelona Beach can also double up as a contour shade for your cheeks.   

The Route To Great Hair?

I am not a massive fan of hair products but I like to try some once in a while. What I am looking for in hair products is something that would give my hair lift, volume and texture. For texture I usually use something along the lines of texturising spray (e.g Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce) or dry shampoo (e.g Batiste). Imagine my excitement when I came across a Lush product called Roots, which promises fabulous hair with added volume. To find out if this is the route to great hair or not keep on reading!

Lush Roots Hair Treatment 

As with most Lush products, it comes in a pot and contains a generous amount of product, 225g. You don't need a lot since you have to distribute it on your roots only and this guy has lasted me for over 6 months and I am not even done with it yet. The consistency is that of a thick lotion and it has a very pleasant minty scent to it. The key ingredients are: honey, peppermint oil, sweet orange oil and extra virgin olive oil. It's cruelty free but not paraben free. This is a 20min leave in treatment, which you work into your scalp before shampooing and conditioning.

I tried to get this product to work for me multiple times but every single time I was left disappointed. In the end I just stopped using it altogether. The thing is that for my purpose which was to get extra volume and oomph it failed to deliver. It just left my hair feeling and looking flat. I did not notice any additional volume or lift from the roots. I used it consistently every week hoping that perhaps over time I will notice a difference. Nope. That being said I think this product could be a lifesaver for someone with itchy scalp since it feels very calming and cooling. However, if like me you are looking for something that will provide you with additional volume I suggest you look elsewhere.

Overall, I am quite disappointed with this product since I read so many reviews saying how amazing it is. Unfortunately it did nothing for my hair. I am by no means a hair expert but I'd rather stick to a shampoo such as Rahua Voluminous Shampoo or Lush Seanik Shampoo Bar (especially if you want to decrease waste) for added volume. 

Let me know if there are any hair treatments that actually help in making your hair look and feel like that of a lion's mane. 

Until next time,
Muffy